[Objective] The spatial heterogeneity of soil respiration in different growing period of Nitraria tangutorum in dryland was demonstrated to provide a scientific basis for the estimation of CO2 emission and for the regional carbon budget in oasis.[Methods] Using Li-8100 soil respiration measurement system

we made field observation of soil respiration rate of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas dominated dunes in 2014. The dunes located in the oasis-desert ecotone on the southern fringe of Badanjara Desert. We measured the daily change at different positions of Nitraria tangutorum along growing period

and studied the spatial heterogeneity of soil respiration of Nitraria tangutorum at different position and their seasonal variability.[Results] (1) The daily change of soil respiration rate of Nitraria tangutorum at different positions and in different growing period were different. It exhibited an unimodal variation both at the beginning of the growing period and at the dormancy season. In flourishing period

both unimodal and bimodal existed for daily respiration. Besides that

the peaks of soil respiration in different growth periods were different:the peak occurred at around 11:00 in beginning growth period

the peak of the flourishing period occurred at around 10:00 or 17:00. The peak in dormancy period delayed and occurred at 14:00. (2) There was different spatial heterogeneity of soil respiration rate at different positions on the sand mound. No significant difference(p>0.05) existed for the observations at different dune positions at the beginning of the growing period and at the dormancy period. Whereas there was a significant spatial difference(p<0.01) at the flourishing period.The average soil respiration rate at different growing period varied significantly

had a rank of flourishing period > beginning of the growing period > dormancy period.[Conclusion] Soil respiration rate of Nitraria tangutorum at different positions and in different growing period showed significantly spatial heterogeneity

which was mainly resulted from the interaction of near-surface water condition

the temperature and water content above 20 cm soil of Nitraria tangutorum at different positions.